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Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has posed significant challenges for healthcare workers worldwide, potentially affecting their sense of coherence (SOC) and overall well-being. This study aimed to identify factors associated with different levels of SOC among healthcare workers, exploring demographic characteristics, work-related factors, changes in relationships and social habits, and the overall well-being. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 628 healthcare workers. SOC scores were assessed using a standardized questionnaire. Statistical analyses were performed to identify associations between these factors and SOC. Results: Healthcare workers had a lower average SOC score (mean: 57.1) compared to the national average in Italy (mean: 60.3). Younger age and shorter length of service were associated with a higher risk of low SOC (p < 0.0001). Healthcare workers in the northwestern regions of Italy had an increased risk of low SOC compared to their counterparts in the northeastern regions (p = 0.0336). Adverse pandemic-related experiences and worsening social relationships were also associated with a higher risk of low SOC (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: This study highlights the unique challenges and stressors faced by healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and their impact on SOC. Age, length of service, geographic location, and social status were significant factors influencing SOC levels. Targeted interventions are needed to enhance SOC and well-being, particularly for younger and newly employed healthcare workers. Strategies promoting social connections, work-life balance, and psychological support services are crucial to support healthcare workers' resilience and coping abilities.

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OBJECTIVES: Late-life depression is a severe problem leading to adverse consequences in the lives of seniors. Pervasive evidence emphasizes that childhood maltreatment is one of determining factors in late-life depression. The literature suggests a complicated mechanism underlying this relationship. This study aimed to examine whether the sense of coherence (SOC) mediated and moderated the relationship between childhood maltreatment and late-life depression. METHOD: This study sample included 237 community-dwelling older adults (aged 60-97) with a mean of 69.23 years and standard deviation = 6.87, from November to December 2019 in Tehran. A face-to-face interview was done, and the data was collected based on a multistage sampling approach and analyzed with the structural equation modeling. RESULTS: Childhood maltreatment was positively associated with depression while negatively correlated with the SOC in older adults. A low level of SOC was also correlated with symptoms of depression. In addition, the SOC partly mediated the association between childhood maltreatment and late-life depression. However, no moderation effect of SOC was found. CONCLUSIONS: Childhood maltreatment may be linked with late-life depression. Part of this relationship is highly likely indirect, through the effect of SOC, which could inform intervention efforts to promote the level of SOC to alleviate symptoms of depression in seniors.

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Promoting positive mental health is crucial for the elderly living in long-term care facilities (LTCFs). This study aims to examine the effectiveness of horticultural therapy on the level of sense of coherence (SOC) among older LTCF residents with relatively normal mental function. With convenient sampling, a total of 86 participants were recruited from 12 LTCFs in northeastern Taiwan. In the experimental group (n = 49), the mean (±standard deviation) score of SOC was 50.45 ± 6.07 at baseline and increased to 56.37 ± 7.20 (p < 0.001) after 12-week horticultural intervention. In contrast, the mean SOC score did not change significantly in the control group (n = 37) during the study period. Generalized estimating equation analysis showed that a significant interaction effect between group and time on the SOC score (p < 0.001). Our findings indicate that horticultural therapy is effective to strengthen the SOC level of older LTCF residents without dementia.

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While empathy is considered a critical determinant of the quality of medical care, growing evidence suggests it may be associated with both one's own positive and negative moods among healthcare professionals. Meanwhile, sense of coherence (SOC) plays an essential role in the improvement of both psychological and physical health. Reportedly, individual SOC reaches full stability after around age 30. The aim of this study was first to evaluate the mediatory role of SOC on the association between empathy and individual moods among 114 healthcare professionals in a general hospital, and then to examine the moderating effect of age on this association. Participants completed a range of self-report demographic questionnaires, Empathy Process Scale (EPS), the 13-item Antonovsky's SOC, and Profile of Mood States (POMS). Findings showed that SOC mediated the relations between empathy (EPS) and both POMS-Vigor (POMS-V: self-vigor mood) and POMS-Depression (POMS-D: self-depression mood). Notably, moderated mediation analysis revealed that there was a significant interaction (age × SOC) on self-vigor mood (POMS-V) in healthcare professionals. The indirect effect of empathy (EPS) on self-vigor mood (POMS-V) through SOC was significant at over mean age "32.83." Although there was no significant interaction with age regarding the indirect effect of empathy (EPS) on self-depression mood (POMS-D), in the sub-category level analysis of empathy (EPS), we found a significant interaction item [age × empathy for other's negative affect (EPS-N)] on SOC. This indirect effect was also significant at over mean age "32.83." Taken, together, the current study highlighted the significant mediator of SOC on that empathy amplifies self-vigor mood and attenuates self-depression mood as a protective factor among the Japanese healthcare professionals. Some components of these processes may depend on the moderating role of age, indicating that we may need to consider the SOC development with age for more effective empathy performance interventions among healthcare professionals.

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Background: This study investigated associations of self-rated health (SRH), recovery from work, fatigue, and insomnia with working conditions, the psychosocial work environment, lifestyle, and sense of coherence (SOC) among commercial pilots. Methods: A standardized questionnaire was sent to all pilots in an airline company, of whom 354 (61%) responded. Associations were analyzed via ordinal and logistic regression with mutual adjustment. Results: Overall, 21.8% of participants reported low SRH, 13.0% reported not recovering from work during their free time, 61.9% experienced fatigue, and 70.6% experienced insomnia symptoms. A high level of demand at work was associated with poor SRH and more fatigue, and low social support at work was associated with insomnia and poorer recovery from work. Habits surrounding exercise and BMI were associated with SRH. Part-time pilots and captains reported experiencing better recovery from work than their counterparts, while female pilots and younger pilots reported less fatigue. Amount of free time after work and the type of airplane operated were associated with experience of insomnia symptoms. Finally, having a strong sense of coherence was protectively associated with all health outcomes. Conclusion: The psychosocial environment at work is essential for the health of pilots, and a strong sense of coherence can be protective. Occupational conditions may influence recovery from work, fatigue, and insomnia. Moreover, engaging in exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, working part-time, and having more free time after the working day could improve pilots' health.

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Employing the salutogenic approach, this longitudinal study explored the effects of coping with the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel, as it evolved from an acute to a chronic stress situation, during the first year. We examined the role of individual [sense of coherence (SOC)], social (perceived social support), and national [sense of national coherence (SONC)] coping resources, as well as situational and demographic factors, in predicting mental health and anxiety. Data was collected in five phases between March 2020 and February 2021 via a repeated panel sample and included 198 Jewish Israelis (52% males) age 18-64 (M = 43.5). The results confirmed the expected pattern of moving from acute to chronic stressful situation: levels of general anxiety were higher in the first phase of the pandemic outbreak as compared to the other phases. Levels of social and national coping resources significantly decreased over time. However, as expected, the salutogenic resource of the individual sense of coherence remained stable and was also found as the main predictor of both anxiety and mental health in the 5 phases of the study. Beyond the explanatory factor of SOC, mental health was better explained by the social and national coping resources, while anxiety was explained by situational factors (level of financial risk and gender). The discussion delineates the longitudinal effects of individual, social, and national coping resources on mental health and anxiety during the dynamic process of the long period of 1 year of the pandemic, evolving from acute to chronic phases of the complicated health, economic, social, and political crisis.

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Objectives　To develop and assess the reliability and validity of a scale measuring subjective quality of life (QOL), which encompasses the "strength and ability" to live positively through the three dimensions of biological life, everyday life, and overall course of life, in order to support QOL in older adults.Methods　We reviewed related literature and conducted interviews with patients with chronic diseases. Participants rated their QOL on a seven-point scale using the visual analog scale. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to collect data from 100 older adults living in their own homes. The participants were between the ages of 70 and 84, and were recruited from comprehensive community support centers or from among hospital outpatients. We assessed scale reliability using Cronbach's α, item-total (I-T) correlation analysis, and calculation of α coefficient-if-item-deleted. We examined content validity by analyzing the content of the free response items. To evaluate construct validity, we carried out a hierarchical multiple regression analysis, examined the semantic content of the factors related to subjective QOL, and confirmed consistency with previous studies.Results　Regarding the reliability analysis of the scale, the α coefficient was 0.898, and both the I-T correlation and α coefficient-if-item-deleted exceeded the minimum value considered reliable. In examining content validity, the categories extracted for each of the three dimensions were found to demonstrate the characteristics of the general ideas of each dimension of QOL. Thus, the scale was confirmed to have overall content validity. As for the assessment of validity of its constitutive concepts, subjective QOL scores were significantly high among participants who had jobs, had role-related or financial capacity, used two or more nursing services, or scored high in perceived health competence, social networking, and sense of coherence (SOC). In addition, "meaningfulness" of SOC, and financial capacity had significant correlations with subjective QOL. These results are consistent with past research and therefore confirm construct validity.Conclusion　This study sufficiently confirmed the reliability and validity of the scale, and consequently its usability.

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The COVID-19 outbreak has seen people in many countries asked to radically modify their way of life in compliance with sweeping safety measures. During the current crisis, technology is turning out to be key, in that it allows practitioners to deliver psychological services to people who would otherwise be unreachable. However, professionals cannot solely rely on their traditional modes of practice, in that different methods are required to bring to light the needs of those affected by the emergency. People are being overwhelmed by a cascade of unusual and unexpected events that are putting a strain on their everyday routines and usual meaning-making systems; ongoing challenges to their employment and financial status will likely divert personal resources away from psychological well-being. We therefore argue that psychologists should also consider the needs of the general population. Among those who may require help-aside from the main targets of psychological intervention, such as healthcare personnel and COVID-19 patients and their relatives-specific attention should be paid to those who are not at the center of the crisis. We suggest that this large segment of potential users may benefit from a non-medical approach focused on the promotion of meaning-making processes. Indeed, the disruptive nature of the current situation hinders sense-making and threatens to undermine psychological balance and well-being, at an individual as well as at a societal level. The present article proposes a methodological perspective based on the reconstruction of meaning-making processes (sense of coherence, predictability, metaphors, narratives). Specifically, psychological interventions should promote personal and collective resources with a view to: "normalizing" current distressful experiences (i.e., acknowledging that such reactions are normal in light of the present situation); widening the observational field, taking relational contexts into account, and promoting an understanding of distressful experiences as coping strategies; fostering meaning-making/reconstruction processes through the use of appropriate metaphors and narratives; promoting a sense of coherence. We present two clinical vignettes to illustrate how these principles might be applied in practice. In conclusion, the exceptional psychological challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic require practitioners to adopt a broad and flexible perspective on clinical intervention.

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BACKGROUND: Volunteer firefighters belong to a risk population regarding the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, given the frequency of work-related trauma, PTSD prevalences seem relatively low. Protective factors appear to be effective and are the focus of this study. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the PTSD-prevalence as well as the influence of trauma exposure and the impact of protective factors resilience and Sense of Coherence (SoC) on symptoms of PTSD in volunteer firefighters. METHOD: Data from 232 participants of an online questionnaire study were analysed using a path model approach. RESULTS: 'The results suggest a possible prevalence of PTSD of 12.5% and 2.2% for partial PTSD based on self-report measures. SoC and trauma event load proved to be independent of each other, as no intercorrelations were found. But both directly predicted PTSD severity. Higher resilience scores predicted the participants' Sense of Coherence, but PTSD severity was only indirectly affected by resilience, which was entirely mediated by SoC. Further, although SoC and trauma load increase with age and years of job experience, it is only SoC that affects PTSD severity, not age or years of experience. CONCLUSIONS: The results emphasize that not only exposure to potentially traumatic events predicts the later probability of developing symptoms of PTSD, but that the integration of stressful experiences into the self-concept (associated with SoC) is essential for the development of PTSD. Future research should address the question of causality between SoC and PTSD, and consider which factors moderate the SoC.

Antecedentes: Los bomberos voluntarios pertenecen a una población de riesgo con respecto al desarrollo del Trastorno de Estrés Postraumático (TEPT). Sin embargo, dada la frecuencia de los traumas relacionados con el trabajo, las prevalencias del TEPT parecen relativamente bajas. Los factores protectores parecen ser efectivos y son el foco de este estudio.Objetivo: Investigamos la prevalencia del TEPT, así como la influencia de la exposición al trauma y el impacto de los factores de protección de la resiliencia y el sentido de coherencia (SoC en su sigla en inglés) sobre los síntomas del TEPT en los bomberos voluntarios.Método: Se analizaron los datos de 232 participantes de un estudio por cuestionario en línea, utilizando un enfoque de modelo de ruta.Resultados: Los resultados sugieren una posible prevalencia del TEPT de 12.5% y 2.2% para TEPT parcial, basado en medidas de autoinforme. La carga de eventos de trauma y el SoC demostraron ser independientes uno del otro, ya que no se encontraron intercorrelaciones. Pero ambos predijeron directamente la severidad del TEPT. Los puntajes más altos de resiliencia predijeron el sentido de coherencia de los participantes, pero la severidad del TEPT solo se vio afectada indirectamente por la resiliencia, que fue mediada completamente por el SoC. Además, aunque el SoC y la carga traumática aumentan con la edad y los años de experiencia laboral, solo el SoC afecta la gravedad del TEPT, no la edad o los años de experiencia.Conclusiones: Los resultados enfatizan que no solo la exposición a eventos potencialmente traumáticos predice la probabilidad posterior de desarrollar síntomas de TEPT, sino que la integración de las experiencias estresantes en el autoconcepto (asociado con SoC) es esencial para el desarrollo de TEPT. La investigación futura debería abordar la cuestión de la causalidad entre el SoC y el TEPT, y considerar qué factores moderan el SoC.

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Contemporary workplaces are influenced by rapid changes, high levels of competition, increasing complexities and internationalisation processes. At the edge of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), insecurities and anxieties are high, and leaders are encouraged more than ever to lead employees with meaningful vision and prudence in order to make use of employees' strengths, and ensure mental health and well-being. The aim of this article is to present new insights into salutogenesis, particularly sense of coherence (SOC), compassionate love (CL), and coping (C) in leaders with different cultural backgrounds. This study strengthens the idea that CL is a coping mechanism. This coping mechanism can be used by leaders to establish a resilient and salutogenic organisations. This article explores the subjective perspectives of 22 international leaders from five different countries and their views regarding SOC, CL and C through a qualitative research approach, using a qualitative online questionnaire for data collection and content analysis for data analysis. The findings on the perspectives of leaders provide new and original insights into how SOC, CL and C are connected, and how these concepts contribute to healthy organisations which are on their way to the transition into the 4IR. Conclusions are drawn. Recommendations for future research and practice are given.

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We compared sense of coherence (SOC) among Bedouin women in polygamous with those in monogamous marriages. SOC is a global orientation toward life as comprehensible, manageable, and meaningful, and is derived from generalized resistance resources that promote effective coping in stressful life situations. Strong SOC may be a resource for strengthening resilience and promoting health. We administered questionnaires to 464 Indigenous Arab Bedouin women (ages 18-49 years) in 2008-2009 using the 13-item SOC questionnaire. Contrary to our hypothesis, SOC was higher among women in polygamous compared to monogamous marriages. Husband's education, husband's abandonment of the household, living in unrecognized villages, and low mastery (perception of one's ability to control life situations) were associated with higher SOC. These results might suggest that polygamy may provoke new coping mechanisms among women as they reappraise life amidst low mastery, accept cultural norms, and marshal new resources, thereby increasing key elements of SOC, including comprehensibility, manageability, and meaningfulness. Interventions and services seeking to empower women in polygamous marriages should build on their resilience.

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Unpaid caregivers (CG) provide most of the assistance to persons with dementias (PWD) living in the community. This study explores the current state of knowledge regarding the concept of sense of coherence (SOC) and CG of PWD via a concept analysis. The identified defining attributes were health, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), CG burden, CG stress, coping as a strength, gender, and decreasing sense of CG coherence over the progression of the disease (dementia). Further study by health care professionals using clinical observations, large samples of respondents, a consistent theory, valid and reliable instruments used to measure defining attributes consistently, and critical reviews of the literature are needed.

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Background: Antonovsky's concept of sense of coherence (SOC) - as a global orientation reflecting an individual's feeling of confidence in both the predictability of their internal and external environment and their ability to cope with stressful and challenging situations in life - shows a negative association with symptoms of post-traumatic stress. However, single studies varying in study characteristics provide heterogeneous effect size estimations. Objective: The purpose of the current study is to investigate the relationship between SOC and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity for the first time on a meta-analytical level. Method: The random-effects meta-analysis is based on zero-order correlations (r) and consists of 47 independent samples out of 45 studies (N = 10,883). Results: After correcting for sampling error, the mean correlation between SOC and PTSD symptoms was M(r) = -.41 (excluding four outliers: -.39). However, this effect could not be generalized to all types of PTSD samples owing to substantial remaining heterogeneity. Subsequent moderator analyses investigating the influence of different SOC and PTSD measures, trauma type and duration, mean age and gender imbalances per sample did not reveal significant moderating effects. Conclusions: The meta-analysis reveals a substantial correlation between SOC and PTSD symptom severity: higher SOC levels are associated with lower symptom severity. Thus, future research should progress to the question of whether the relationship between SOC and post-traumatic stress is causal, and by which factors it is moderated. Abbreviations: CD, Cook's distance; DSM, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; (G)RR, general (and specific) resistance resources; IES(-R), Impact of Event Scale (Revised); PDS, Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale; PRISMA, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses; PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder; SDR, standard deleted residual; SOC, sense of coherence; SOC-R, Sense of Coherence Scale - Revised.

Antecedentes: El concepto de sentido de coherencia (SOC) de Antonovsky- como una orientación global reflejando el sentimiento de seguridad de un individuo, tanto en la previsibilidad de su ambiente interno y externo y su habilidad para enfrentar situaciones estresantes y desafiantes en su vida- muestra una asociación negativa con el estrés postraumático. Sin embargo, estudios individuales que varían en las características proporcionan estimaciones del tamaño del efecto heterogéneo.Objetivo: El propósito de este estudio es investigar la relación entre SOC y severidad de los síntomas de TEPT por primera vez a un nivel metaanalítico.Método: El metanálisis de efectos aleatorios se basa en correlaciones de orden cero (r) y consta de 47 muestras independientes de 45 estudios (N= 10.883).Resultados: Después de corregir por error de muestreo, la correlación media entre SOC y síntomas de TEPT fue M(r) =−.41 (excluyendo cuatro valores atípicos: −.39). Sin embargo, este efecto podría no ser generalizado a todos los tipos de muestras de TEPT debido a la importante heterogeneidad restante. Los siguientes análisis del moderador investigan la influencia de diferentes mediciones de SOC y TEPT, tipo de trauma y duración, edad media y desbalance de género por muestra no revela efectos moderados significativos.Conclusiones: El metanálisis revela una importante correlación entre SOC y severidad de los síntomas de TEPT: Niveles más altos de SOC están asociados con menor severidad de los síntomas. De este modo, las investigaciones futuras deberían progresar a la pregunta de si la relación entre SOC y estrés postraumático es causal, y por cuáles factores es moderada.

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Introduction: This study aimed to clarify the stress experienced by nurses working at hospitals in Japan through the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).Methods: A questionnaire survey that included a brief job stress questionnaire and sense of coherence (SOC) scale was administered to EPA nurses and nursing candidates.Results: Seventy-two nurses and nursing candidates responded to the survey. Overall, 79.2% of them felt confused about the differences between work in Japan and in their home country and they experienced qualitative and physical burdens as a result of their job. Female respondents rated the "suitability of the job" as relatively low, whereas male respondents rated the "degree of utilization of skills" as relatively low. Both male and female respondents received strong support from their families and friends. A correlation analysis of the data regarding female respondents indicated that occupational stress was related to how accustomed they had become to life in Japan, their Japanese language ability, quantitative burden of the job, workplace environment, and SOC.Conclusions: The study results suggested that considerations of the burden of the job, workplace environment, and improvement in SOC should be required from workplaces that accept EPA nurses.

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BACKGROUND: Providing individuals with psychosocial resources such as sense of coherence (SOC) seems a beneficial strategy for health promotion in the neighborhood. In order to become a supporting theory for health promotion, Salutogenesis should renew its focus on resources for health, and explore how the development of a strong SOC can be facilitated. METHODS: Relevant issues were explored using a Grounded Theory- approach. Three focus-group-sessions and three in-depth interviews were conducted with strategically sampled participants. The transcripts of the focus groups were initially analyzed line-by-line to ensure that insights emerged from the data. We then applied focused and systemic analyses to achieve axial coding, and to include insights into how social interactions during focus groups may reveal social processes in real-life-neighborhoods. The data from the in-depth interviews were used to validate and fill emerging categories, as well as to ensure data-saturation. RESULTS: Findings indicate the importance of repeated experiences with resources and every-day-challenges to develop a strong SOC. Active engagement with resources is a favorable condition for significant experiences, which enhance the internalization of resources. Core experiences are characterized by a re-organization of resources. Participation in intellectual meaning-making through equal power dialogue seems to broaden perspectives and promote the strengthening of SOC. A strong SOC can also be described as a deeper understanding of how and why resources work, which allows for a more flexible use of resources, including replacing missing resources. CONCLUSION: A new understanding of SOC as an intuitive understanding of how, why and under which circumstances resources work, as well as a new focus on everyday life and repeated experiences might facilitate new approaches to a purposeful strengthening of SOC through the planning and implementation of public measures.

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OBJECTIVES: Analysis and comparison of two types of motivation (autotelic and non-autotelic) which are behind the choice of medical specialisation by doctors in relation to their sense of coherence. METHODS: Questionnaire method was used in the study. The study included a group of 86 graduates of the Faculty of Medicine of the Jagiellonian University, who have completed postgraduate internships at the Department of Haematology and Oncology, Department of Gynaecology of the Jagiellonian University and the L. Rydygier hospital in Krakow in 2010-2012. Statistical analyses were performed using the IBM SPSS Statistics 21. The level of significance was alpha = 0.05. RESULTS: It has been shown that doctors are more frequently characterised by the autotelic type of motivation. It has also been proven that there is a relationship between the male sex of the surveyed doctors and their autotelic type of motivation. Moreover, it has been demonstrated that there is a correlation between the comprehensibility component of the sense of coherence and the male sex. It has been also demonstrated that there is a correlation between meaningfulness component of the sense of coherence and the choice of surgical specialisation. CONCLUSIONS: Autotelic motivation prevails when choosing a medical specialty and this tendency is more noticeable in men than in women. The meaningfulness component of SoC plays a regulatory role in making career decisions related to the greater physical and mental pressure put on doctors. The observed differences in the types of motivation and the size of the components of the sense of coherence in groups of surveyed doctors - men and women - encourage further observations of these relationships on a larger population.

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AIM: Sense of coherence (SOC) is thought to be a major determinant in maintaining health. SOC gained attention recently in the fields of psychiatry after it was reported to be associated with a lowered risk of various health problems. However, the effect of SOC as a buffer against performance impairment caused by health problems is not well known. Thus, we aimed to examine the relationships among health problem, the degree of presenteeism (performance loss due to health problems), and SOC in adolescents. METHODS: Participants were 2824 university students (1855 males, mean age; 18.35±0.84 years). SOC and self-reported health problems were assessed using an SOC scale (29 items) and the presenteeism scale for students, respectively. RESULTS: SOC scores differed between students with and without health problems (t(2822)=5.75, P<0.001). The effect size (Cohen's d) was 0.22 for this difference. In a multiple logistic regression analysis, male gender (odds ratio [OR]=0.62; 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.53-0.73), moderate SOC (within ±1 SD; OR=0.59; 95% CI=0.47-0.72), and high SOC (>1 SD; OR=0.43; 95% CI=0.33-0.58) were independently associated with a lower frequently of health problems. In addition, SOC showed a significant inverse correlation with presenteeism (r=-0.27, P<0.001). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that application of the concept of SOC might aid in the prevention of health problems among university students. Students with a strong SOC might be less prone to a decline in performance when health problems arise.

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The aim of this paper is to present the trans-cultural adaptation and reliability of the Sense of Coherence scale (SOC-13 from Antonovsky) into Portuguese language using a sample of mothers of preschool children. The originally validated scale demonstrated a low return percentage and high number of extreme answers when applied to mothers of preschool children selected by convenience sampling in Brazil. Adaptations were made through cognitive interviews and involved rewording items, the usage of five rather than seven alternatives and the insertion of middle anchoring phrases. Three independent samples took part in the study for the psychometric tests. These samples consisted of one group of 36 and another of 38 mothers selected by convenience, as well as an additional group of 546 mothers randomly selected from the city of Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Instrument reliability was accessed by internal consistency, test-retest and item-to-total-score correlations with each of the three samples, respectively. Findings indicate that the adapted scale is comprehensible and obtained a greater response rate than the originally validated scale. Internal consistency increased from 0.67 for the original scale to 0.71 for the adapted scale. This value was extended to 0.80 in the test with the randomly selected sample. Medium weighted Kappa coefficients were 49.5 percent. The Spearman test demonstrated that the questions were correlated with total SOC scores. Results indicate that the adapted scale is valid and consistent for mothers of preschool children from different social classes.(AU)

O objetivo do presente estudo é apresentar a adaptação trans cultural e a confiabilidade da escala de Senso de Coerência (SOC-13 de Antonovsky) para a língua portuguesa em uma amostra de mães de crianças pré-escolares. A escala originalmente validada demonstrou um baixo percentual de resposta e um elevado número de respostas extremas quando aplicada a mães de crianças pré-escolares de uma amostra de conveniência na cidade de Belo Horizonte, Brasil. Com o auxílio de entrevistas cognitivas, foram feitas adaptações que envolveram a alteração de palavras, o uso de cinco opções de respostas ao invés de sete e a inserção de explicação por escrito para as respostas intermediárias. Três amostras independentes participaram do estudo para os testes psicométricos. Estas três amostras consistiram de um grupo de 36 e outro de 38 mães selecionadas por conveniência, e um terceiro grupo composto por 564 mães selecionadas aleatoriamente. A confiabilidade foi verificada através da consistência interna, teste-reteste e correlação intem-escore total, em cada uma das três amostras respectivamente. Os resultados indicam que a escala adaptada é consistente e obteve uma taxa de respostas superior à da escala originalmente validada. A consistência interna aumentou de 0,67 para 0,71 para a escala adaptada. Este valor aumentou para 0,80 no teste com a amostra aleatoriamente selecionada. Os coeficientes de Kappa ponderado atingiram valores médios de 49,5 por cento. A correlação de Spearman mostrou que todos os itens se correlacionaram com os escores totais de SOC. Os resultados indicam que a escala adaptada é válida e consistente para mães de crianças pré-escolares de diferentes classes sociais.(AU)